Office of Postdoc Affairs 4th Newsletter: October 2025

★ Have suggestions for us? Put your thoughts into our new Office of Postdoctoral Affairs Suggestion Box!

Events

UMBC Graduate Student & Postdoc Development (GSPD): 

★ Wed. October 1 | 2:30-3:45 PM | PAHB 456
Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR) Session 4: Authorship, Peer Review, and Publication
Sign up here
★ Fri. October 3 | 10:30-11:30 AM | Online
Exploring AI in Graduate Research Series: Gemini with Dr. Anupam Joshi
Sign up here
★ Fri. October 3 | 2-3 PM | Online
Future Faculty Session 4: Interviews - get tips on how to prepare for zoom interviews!
Sign up here
★ Wed. October 8 | 2:30-3:45 PM | PAHB 456
Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR) Session 5: Mentor/Mentee Responsibilities and Relationships
Sign up here
★ Fri. October 10 | 1-2 PM | ILSB 233
TA Skills Series: Formative Classroom Assessment Techniques
Sign up here
★ Wed. October 15 | 2:30-3:45 PM | PAHB 456
Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR) Session 6: Collaborative Research and Intellectual Property
Sign up here
★ Thurs. October 16 | 4:30-6 PM | ITE 229
Decoding Graduate School Series: Decoding Your Network: Building Community and Finding Support, and Interdepartmental communities, External Communities, and Combatting Imposter Syndrome in your Community: Mapping your Support System
Sign up  here
★ Wed. October 22 | 2:30-3:45 PM | PAHB 456
Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR) Session 7: Ethical Data Acquisition, Handling, and Use, Including Questionable Research Practices, Replicability, and Reproducibility
Sign up here
★ Fri. October 24 | 1-2 PM | ILSB 233
TA Skills Series: Improving your teaching through Feedback and Classroom Management
Sign up here
★ Wed. October 29 | 2:30-3:45 PM | PAHB 456
Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR) Session 8: Conflict of Interest
Sign up here
 

UMBC Center for Social Science Scholarship
★ Sat. October 11 | 2-1 PM | Online |
Beyond the Journal: Turning Scholarship into Impact 
Register here

★ Advancing Social Science Research: A Workshop Series on AI, R, LLMs, and Computational Methods

This series will begin with the basics of computing in R and how to use generative AI/LLMs in social science research workflows. Each session will be focused on getting faculty and students comfortable with deploying AI and LLM models in their research, but with a deeper understanding of the ethical, equity, and environmental consequences of these models. REGISTER (Mark your calendar now for future dates!)
FOR OCTOBER:
★ Fri. October 3 | 12-1:30pm | PUP 451
Introduction to R, R Projects, R Markdown and the Basics of LLMs
 

UMBC LIBRARY

A.I. Seminar Series: 
EXPLORING THE GADGETS AND GIZMOS OF YOUR A.I. TOOLKIT
★ Wed. October 1 | 12-1 PM | Online 
Google Gemini: AI Tools for Research, Teaching, & Learning
Register and join online event
★ Wed. October 8 | 12-1 PM | Online 
Assembling an AI Toolbox
Register and join online event
★ Wed. October 15 | 12-1 PM | Online
Beyond the Hype: Embedding Ethics in AI Policy
Register and join online event
★ Wed. October 22  | 12-1 PM | Online
Making Sense of Data with AI: Lowering Barriers
Register and join online event
Other Library Events:
★ Wed. October 1 | 12-1 PM | Hybrid | Library and Gallery 259
How to Use EndNote Online for Citation Management
Register and join online
★ Wed. October 1 | 3-4 PM | Online
Writing Wednesday Workshop: Stepping up your Research Game: Searching Strategically
Register and join online
★ Mon. October 6 | 12-1 PM | Online
How to Write a STEM Literature Review (Advanced)
Register and join online
★ Thurs. October 9 | 12-1 PM | Online
Creating an Academic Research Poster Using Canva
Register and join online
★ Mon. October 13 | 12-1 PM | Online
STEM Research and Publication Faculty Panel
Register and join online
★ Tues. October 28 | 4-5 PM | HYBRID | Library and Gallery 259
Skills for Graduate Students: Systematic Reviews
Register and join online
UMBC FACULTY DEVELOPMENT CENTER:
A.I. WORKSHOPS
★ Mon. October 6 | 12-1 PM | Online
Generative AI in Teaching I: Literacy and Foundations
Register here
★ Tues. October 14 | 12-1 PM | Online
Using AI and Analytics to Assess and Supplement Students' Prior Knowledge Needed to Succeed in Large STEM Courses
Register here
★ Thurs. October 23 | 12-1:30 PM | Online
Analog Inspiration: A Discussion of Human-Centered Teaching and Learning in the Generative AI Era 
Register here
★ Mon. October 27 | 12-1 PM | Online
I'm Not Teaching with Generative AI, But What Do I Still Need to Know?
Register here
★ Tues. October 28 | 12-1 PM | Online
Write Like You Teach Book Discussion: Part 1 
Register here

UMBC CAREER CENTER
★ Applications due by October 31
Maryland Department of Legislative Service's Legislative Fellow Program
A chance for graduate students to learn the legislative process while receiving a stipend! 
APPLY HERE
Events from Partners within the University System of Maryland

CARTI @ UMMS 
★ Thurs. Oct 9 | 9-10 AM | Online 
Seminar: Responding to Reviewers 
Register here
★ Thurs. Oct 9 | 1-2 PM | Online CARTI @ UMMS 
Seminar: Staffing Your Research Group
Register here
★ Tues. Oct 14 | 9–10 AM | Online CARTI @ UMMS
Strategies for Securing Industry Funding
Register here

Events from National Partners

CIRTL (the Center for the Integration of Research, Teaching & Learning):
Reminder: UMBC is part of the national CIRTL network; you can earn a nationally recognized certificate that demonstrates your commitment to being an effective instructor! Email Dr. Gurganus jgurganus@umbc.edu for more information. 
★ Fri, October 10 | 2:00-3:30 pm EST | Online
Effective Assessment Strategies for Large Undergraduate Courses
Register here
★ Wed. October 15 |12 - 2:00 PM EST | Online
Shared Voices, Shared Decisions: Sociocracy for Educators and Leaders in Higher Ed 
Register here
★ Mon. October 20 |11 AM- 12:30 PM EST | Online
Scaffolding Students' Success as Independent Learners: Developing Instructional Materials Using Self-Regulated Learning Principles
Register here
★ Thurs. October 23 @ 11 AM- 1 PM EST | Online
Fostering a Growth Mindset and Developing a Sense of Belonging in Your Students
Register here
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National Postdoctoral Association (NPA):
Reminder: UMBC has an institutional membership allowing you to get your Free NPA Affiliate Membership! Use your your institutional (UMBC) email address and attend events for FREE. 
★ Check here for NPA's calendar of events. There are currently none on the calendar for October.
Member Benefit for NPA Postdoc Members Are you deciding on the next step after your postdoc? Need help looking for jobs that excite you and then figuring out how to apply? The NPA is proud to partner with SciPhD and provide a free, permanent license for all NPA members to their online web application tool – Flamingo™. Sign up here. 

★ 2025 NPA SmartSkills Registration: SmartSkills is a free, virtual course for NPA members. Experts teach monthly classes that focus on building skills critical to career and personal success. Postdocs can earn a certificate from the NPA by attending 10 out of the 12 skills classes. Takes place the fourth Tuesday of each month, at 3 p.m. ET.  Register here.

NCFDD (National Center for Faculty Development & Diversity):
Reminder: UMBC has an institutional membership with the NCFDD, an independent professional development, training, and mentoring community dedicated to supporting academics in making successful transitions throughout their careers. Sign up for free and join their email newsletter!
PUBLIC WEBINAR:
★ Fri. October 24 | 2-3 PM | Online
The AIs Go Marching On: Finding Our Way with AI in Education
Register here
MEMBERS ONLY  WEBINARS (you can become a member for free):
★ Thurs. October 9 | 2-3 PM | Online
How to Engage in Healthy Conflict (in Academia)
Register here
★ Fri. October 17 | 1-2 PM | Online
The Weekly Meeting – October: Planning session!
Register here
★ Tues. October 21 | 10-11 AM | Online
Virtual Writing Session – October: Help with writing!
Register here
★ Thurs. October 30 | 2-3 PM | Online
Building Strong Peer Communities: A Resource for Leadership and Advancement
Register here

• Connect with NCFDD members: Join the new NCFDD community to connect with other faculty - whether it's getting help with a challenge you're facing or finding an accountability partner - it's a space to connect with others from Graduate Students through Department Chair. Check the events calendar for more information!

The Chronicle of Higher Education
The Chronicle of Higher Education is academe's most trusted resource for independent journalism, career development, and forward-looking intelligence. UMBC provides free access. Sign in today.
Sign up to receive the several different newsletters The Chronicle offers that are all about higher education! They are helpful resources that are released daily and weekly.

From Additional Partners:

★  AAAS Science & Technology Policy Fellowship program!
     AAAS places fellows each year across all branches of federal government and in nonfederal organizations to learn first-hand about policymaking and use their knowledge and skills to address today's most pressing societal challenges.
★ Nov. 1 (Deadline)
APPLY HERE!

Resources

• Are you mentoring undergraduates? Consider using a mentor-mentee agreement to define expectations and ensure your undergrad stays motivated, understands how best to communicate with you, and succeeds! Here are some resources available!

Job Sites in Higher Ed:
Postdoc Opportunities Board
NPA Job Board
The Chronicle Job Page
HigherEd Jobs

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